Teachers, Youth Leaders and young people from Estonia, Hungary and Buckinghamshire visited Alfriston School as part of a European Union Erasmus+ funded project initiated by Bucks County Council Youth Service. The group were based at Woodrow High House, Amersham for a week of educational workshops, discussions and team building activities. The trip to the school provided a great opportunity for the visiting students to work collaboratively with year 11 pupils and for the visiting teachers and leaders to learn about some of the innovative approaches used at the school. The project entitled ‘Unite Ambassadors for Peace and Cohesion’ aims to develop young leaders who will act as ambassadors for community cohesion in schools and with youth organisations across Europe. In this initial phase of the project training materials for the future young ambassadors are being developed with the input of young people. Following pilot studies later this year the initiative will be launched at a number of international conferences in Autumn 2019.

Safer Internet Day 2018 will take place on Tuesday 6th February with the theme ‘Create, Connect and Share Respect: a better internet starts with you.’

Celebrated globally and coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the campaign sees hundreds of schools and organisations join together to raise awareness of online safety issues and run events and activities right across the UK.

As a result of this collective action Safer Internet Day 2017 reached 3 million children and 2 million parents across the UK.
Join the campaign to make Safer Internet Day 2018 the biggest yet!

Plans for 6th February
On the day, the campaign will create a huge buzz right across the UK and globally!
There will be national youth events, activities in schools across the UK, media coverage, a day of trending on social media, companies will spread the word to customers and employees, as we all aim to reach as many children and families across the UK as possible.

Here at Alfriston, we have decided to show our support for a positive Internet by wearing a ribbon in our hair that day, any colour will do. We will also be undertaking activities in school to explore our ideas of what a better Internet might look like and we urge all of our parents, friends and supporters to create, connect and share positive messages and use of technology. Also look out for a recent edition of Digital Parenting magazine coming home full of helpful advice and articles.

Together we can make a positive difference
As a result of hearing about Safer Internet Day 2017, an evaluation found that the majority of children spoke to their families about staying safe online while 79% felt more confident about what to do about any worries online. As a result of the day, 1 in 4 young people said they spoke up about something that had been worrying them online.

Together we can make #SID2018 the biggest campaign yet and make a real difference to the digital lives of children right across the UK.
Find out more and get involved! www.saferinternetday.org.uk #SID2018

Every kid around the world gets nervous when going to secondary school, no matter how cool or how confident they are. There is always a low point at that stage in life, but you don’t have to worry because this is a blog that is likely to answer all your questions, and all you have to do is read it.

Always try your best not to worry because big worries turn into lots of little worries that make things worse. You can ask anyone for advice or a little comfort to help you on your way.

It’s always ok to ask where you are if your lost or how things work when your confused. You could always ask a nearby teacher or if you’re feeling quite confident another student. Besides what is the worst that can happen?
The exiting thing about secondary school is all the new experiences. You never know what great things the school has in store for you!

Top Tips

Always ask where the toilets are first or else…

You don’t have to rush about making friends, it’s a good idea to let it happen naturally

You don’t have to be cool when making friends people will like you for who you already are

Always put your name on EVERYTHING you take with you, it’s so annoying losing something on your first day

Golden tip: I would encourage you to be friendly

DON’T forget that it is nearly time for the Christmas Bazaar on Friday 1st December. There will be lots of fun events and games plus opportunities to buy lovely Christmas presents for mums, dads and grandparents.

There will also be some amazing festive foods or the famous Alfriston Hampers to try and win.

Odd Socks day will take place at Alfriston on Friday 17th November or, as we like to call it, Friendship Friday. There is no pressure on the children to wear the latest fashion or for parents to buy expensive costumes. All they have to do to take part is wear odd socks to school, it couldn’t be simpler!

You do not have to raise money to take part – the most important thing is the message of Odd Socks Day – it’s an opportunity for children to express themselves and appreciate individuality and uniqueness! Please encourage your daughter to wear odd socks (for one day only!) to show her support for friends and her commitment to Anti Bullying Week.

And make sure you are safe on the roads by dressing to be seen – wear light, reflective clothes or carry a lamp or torch so that drivers and your responsible adult can see you. You can buy reflective badges and clips from the kiosk at school (prices range from 60p to £1.40)

Alfriston School is raising vital funds for Buckinghamshire Mind on World Mental Health Day, 10th October, by donating the takings from the kiosk that week.

To help pupils understand the issues and to support their wellbeing, Buckinghamshire Mind will be delivering a uniquely designed mental health awareness assembly.

Mental health problems affect about 1 in 10 children and young people, which is as many as three children in every class. However, 70% of children and young people who experience a mental health problem have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.

Buckinghamshire Mind aims to address this by raising awareness of mental health within schools, promoting mental health wellbeing for children and tackling stigma by helping children to understand what a mental health problem is and to talk about mental health.

Buckinghamshire Mind provides a range of services for schools to support mental health wellbeing.
Look at these positive comments made by children and young people in schools who have benefited from the Peer Mentoring in Schools Service:
“This service gives you confidence to be who you are in a safe and accepting environment.”
“It gives people a place to talk and be comfortable being themselves. It’s also very fun and helpful.”
“I’ve loved having a safe environment to talk in and be free, to have a place of security is invaluable.”

Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year. However, World Mental Health Day on 10th October, is a great day for schools, communities and individuals to show support for better mental health and for everyone to start looking after their own wellbeing.

To find out more about Buckinghamshire Mind and the mental health services it provides, please visit www.bucksmind.org.uk

When we heard about the earthquake in Mexico, we decided that we wanted to do something to help. We had already planned our Non-Uniform days and other charity events but felt that it was important to squeeze this in as an extra. So what could we do that was different to our existing plans?

In the end we thought it would be really easy to ask people to bring in their loose change to see if we could complete a money mosaic on the playground. We decided to send our money via Save the Children so thought an out line of a child would be good. In the end we arranged several child figures in a circle and went about laying out the coins; everything from pennies to two pounds had been handed in.

Everybody joined in and it got very busy on the playground and soon the outlines were completed and we set about filling in the shapes. They looked great!

When all the coins were laid down, the Maths department very kindly offered to sweep up all the money and count it and we made an impressive total which currently exceeds £180 and still more change promised.

Thank you to everyone who donated and took part and let’s hope we make some difference for the people affected by the earthquake.

Unsure how to support your teenager to be safer and enjoy their digital world?

We’ll be running a session to help you!

Thursday 25th May, 6pm at Alfriston School

Come along and find out about the digital life skills you can teach them that will help them stay safer and get the most out of everything technology has to offer.

The session will be led by Sophie Linington, Deputy CEO of Parent Zone, experts in tech and families. There will be opportunities to ask questions and understand how you can best prepare your children for their digital future.

As this is such an important topic, we are extending this invitation to other schools. Additionally, please feel free to invite other family and friends who might be interested and who could benefit from this information and training

Please contact Charlene Cheung, Head of Wellbeing on 01494 673 740

Charlene.cheung@alfristonschool.com to confirm your place and the place of any additional attendees